Almost $15 million will fund a major upgrade of the ACT's emergency radio network over the next three years.
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Minister for Police and Emergency Services Joy Burch announced on Monday $14.728 million would be set aside in next week's budget for a revamp of the Territory Radio Network's repeater tower infrastructure and radio and terminal equipment.
The network enables the Emergency Services Agency's emergency call-taking, dispatches, responses and communications,
"This initiative is to ensure the territory's emergency services are able to remain at the forefront of responding to the needs of the Canberra community," Ms Burch said.
"The funding will be spent over the next three years to progress upgrades to [the network], which is used by the ACT ESA as the agency's primary communication method, particularly during emergency events. The [network] is also used by other government agencies."
The Territory Radio Network was introduced in 2004 with key pieces of infrastructure housed at a number of strategically located sites across the ACT, providing almost 100 per cent geographic coverage.
Operator consoles in the Emergency Services Agency's Fairbairn communications centre, radio handsets and vehicle-mounted radio sets communicate via the network.
The latest upgrade funding follows the funding of other key emergency services infrastructure in last year's budget, including the replacement of the network's microwave ring and an upgrade of the agency's computer aided dispatch system.
